Monday January 23, 2012
Disney Channel Original Movies have become exciting events for kids in about the 6-14 age group. The next movie to delight kids with a Disney style romantic comedy is Radio Rebel, premiering on the Disney Channel Friday, February 17, 2012 (8:30 p.m., ET/PT).
One fun thing about the new movie is that it's based on a book: Shrinking Violet. Like the book, the story in the movie follows Tara Adams, an introverted high school junior who is painfully shy at school, but finds her voice as she expresses her love for music through her nightly podcast and eventually on a radio station. Tara's life gets complicated, though, when her two separate worlds threaten to crash together.
If your kiddo loves the Disney Channel movies, check out the book and see if you can spark an interest in her reading the story as well. I haven't read the book yet, but if I get that done before the movie comes out I'll share some info about the content. Otherwise, this one is recommended for kids about 12-17, so you may want to read it first if you have any concerns about it being too mature.
The movie stars latest Disney sensation Debby Ryan and features her performing the smash hit, "We Got the Beat." I still love that song, so looking forward to hearing that.
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Saturday January 21, 2012
So, as we get closer to the Super Bowl (a.k.a. the ad industry's biggest success story), I've already been hearing people talk about what commercials might play during half time. Now I have to admit that it is pretty interesting to see the best of the best of what the creative advertising industry can come up with. Creating an ad is a collaborative process that takes talent, just like any other creative endeavor. So, if your kids are going to be watching the sponsored half-time show anyway, you can use the ads to teach them things both creative and fun as well as useful.
If your family really gets into the half-time ads every year, challenge your kids to come up with their own commercial to sell you on something they want or for a product they invent. They can make a sample product, compose a jingle, or act out a skit. Sit down with kids and discuss all the creative devices advertisers use to sell a product.
If you don't want to go that far, just ask your kids to point out the different strategies used in each ad to sell a product or service. The process of dissecting these ads and understanding how advertisers are trying to persuade them can help kids develop thinking skills and resist the urge to beg for things they see in commercials on TV or anywhere. Also help kids understand who pays for the commercials and why. For young kids, it's especially important and educational to combat commercials and open their eyes to the intents and purposes of advertising.
Tuesday January 17, 2012
We had this great vacation planned for my daughter's 10th birthday later this year, and when we announced the surprise, she surprised us right back. Her face fell, and she told us that what she wants most is to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Apparently, her good friend went there for Christmas vacation and had a ball.
Thanks to the books and the movies, my daughter is a Harry Potter fanatic. She loves to read, and she has read the series 3 times. She also loves the movies, and although she is too young for the PG-13 ones, we did let her watch an edited version of those movies once the last one, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, became available. So, she has seen every movie, some of them several times. I didn't want to shell out the money for a theme park adventure this year, but considering her love for the series, and the fact that she is such a responsible, kind and helpful kid all around, I find myself wanting to indulge this Harry Potter theme park fantasy.
What I do know is that she is going to want to ride the dragon ride, and she will not be tall enough. I wonder if it's wise to do it this year (while she is in the Harry Potter phase), or wait until she and her sisters are a little older (and taller). If you've been to the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, drop me a line and let me know what you thought. Is it worth it? What about for kids 9 and under? Is it based more on the books or movies? If we end up going, I'll definitely share our experience of this theme park based on one of the most popular book and movie series ever made.
Monday January 9, 2012
This Friday, January 13, Disney's Beauty and the Beast waltzes into theaters once again -- this time in 3D. A whole new generation of kids will be able to experience the film, one of the most beloved of the Disney Princess stories, on the big screen. For little girls and those who are fans of the movie, it will be an event to remember, and I'm sure many will dress up for the occasion.
In addition, little princess fans will be treated to the animated short "Tangled Ever After," which is also in 3D and plays right before the Beauty and the Beast film. The short is a comical little story about Rapunzel and Flinn's wedding day, in which the horse Maximus and Pascal the chameleon race on a hilarious misadventure around town trying to secure a roll-away wedding ring. The short is animated in the same quaint style as the original movie and chalk full of the quirky humor that helped make Tangled such a big, and memorable, success.
I wonder, though, about how the overall 3D experience will go over for the youngest fans. I know that our youngest, who is just about to turn four, has only recently learned to tolerate the 3D glass for an entire film. The 3D in Beauty and the Beast is somewhat unlike what we see in today's movies that are generally animated to look fabulous in 3D. Since Beauty and the Beast has been converted after the fact, it reminds me of watching a movie in a shadow box, where each layer of scenery is separated in order to create the 3D effect. In a couple of scenes, some parts of the picture seemed slightly out of focus even, and yet, I liked it. Maybe it's because I love shadow boxes. I thought the effect added to the charm of the movie and fit perfectly with the quaint settings, and I'm certain that my three girls (who are all thrilled that the movie is going to be in theaters again, even though they've already seen it numerous times) will like it as well. So, if your child is willing to put up with the glasses, seeing Beauty and the Beast in 3D promises to be a delightful outing fit for a princess (or prince, as the case may be).
If your child has never been to a 3D movie, this would be a great first to try it out. Familiar characters and a beloved story tend to help keep very young kids' attention pretty well, and even if they take the glasses off a few times (which they probably will), at least they won't miss anything and can still enjoy the music and movie experience. Even though my little one used to take her glasses off half way through the 3D movies we saw, she would still sit and watch the rest of a movie in blurry 2D.
I also imagine this would be a fabulous idea for a Valentine's daddy/daughter date night (or afternoon, to take advantage of matinee prices). I'm thinking a formal invitation along with "the usual things -- flowers, chocolates, promises (night out at the movies) you DO intend to keep" would make any little girl's whole year. And, here are a few other things you and your little ones might enjoy:
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